Eastleigh’s Olympic Gold medals ‘united’ today

Hundreds of people are set to attend an event at Fleming Park today that will celebrate the success and involvement of local people in this year’s London Olympic and Paralympic Games and for the first time ever also bring together the borough’s three gold medals from the 1932, 2008 and the 2012 games.

Organised by the Council and hosted by Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Rupert Kyrle, the event will involve those athletes that represented the borough at London 2012 together with local people who participated as games makers, torch bearers and officials. The athletes attending include Dani King from Hamble who won a gold medal in the women’s team pursuit, David Smith who won a silver and bronze in Boccia in London 2012 and a gold medal in Beijing in 2008.

Adam and David Knott who represented the borough in Goalball this year will also be coming along.

The granddaughter of Tommy Green will also be attending bringing her grandfather’s gold medal that he won in 1932 at the Los Angeles Olympic games for the 50km walk.

Mayor of Eastleigh Cllr Rupert Kyrle said

“Lots of people from throughout the Borough were involved in the Olympic and Paralympic games and it will be great to celebrate the success of the games on a local level. As well as our fantastic athletes we also have eleven gamesmakers and five torch bearers coming along so if you would like to meet our athletes, see Olympic and Paralympic medals, hold an Olympic torch and chat to the games makers then come along at 2pm and celebrate London 2012.”

Local sports organisations and clubs will also be at the event and will be providing short demonstrations.

The event will be held at Fleming Park Leisure Centre on Saturday 6 October from 2pm – 4pm and is open for all the public to attend.